Study Spots on Campus
College (noun): a unique time in a person’s life, with great quantities of stress and even greater quantities of homework (Lauren’sMadeUpDictionary.com).
In order to be a successful student, one must study hard. Question is, where? Campus has a variety of study areas, and today I’ll be ranking some of Concordia’s best (and worst!).
Tier One – The Library Basement and Dunklau Study Rooms
Tier one is the best of Concordia. These are places students visit when times are hard and they need to work in silence, when they’ve got an eight page paper due at midnight and haven’t even started yet. These places have seen the worst of us, and the very air smells of productivity, caffeine, and students’ tears.
Tier Two – Thom Lobby and JTop
Tier two. These places, JTop especially, are the heart and soul of Concordia. They are not always quiet, but the atmosphere is friendly and at least mildly academic. They are worth a visit when you need to get things done but wouldn’t mind a nice distraction every once in a while. Plus, JTop has 10:31, and coffee is always an added bonus. Another study spot, making a guest appearance in Tier Two, is the table outside of the Library. This is a personal favorite of mine. The nearby trees are beautiful, especially in the fall, and this table provides a lovely view of the quad. In addition, the table’s circular nature and variety of seating options means you can always sit facing into the wind, causing your hair to blow back majestically like a model for a L'oreal commercial.
Tier Three – Trees in the Quad
Tier three is where things start to get a little shady, both literally and figuratively. I see people up in the campus’ trees quite frequently, and I can only imagine that the leafy canopy overhead, as well as the opportunity to befriend the campus squirrels, makes the study experience both entertaining and memorable. Unfortunately, this particular study sport loses points in the comfort category. Tree bark does not provide the best back support, let alone a comfy seat. However, this study spot is perfect for those who like to live dangerously, and if you’re looking for a little more excitement and adventure in your life, I’d encourage you to… take a leaf out of their book.
Tier Four – Jesse and Weller Basements
Tier Four – places most sane people avoid. There’s something to be said for their silence, and you aren’t likely to be disturbed in a tier four, but these spots are more than a little creepy. The Jesse basement is full of locked doors and abandoned furniture. I wouldn’t recommend this study space for anything, except maybe inspiration for writing scary stories. Plus, a lot of professors have their offices on the higher floors, and who knows what kind of evil experiments they conduct up there. The Weller basement, too, is creepy. It’s dark and oddly squeaky, and probably haunted by the ghost of Pastor Matthias. (Yes, I know he’s actually alive. It’ll still work, ok?! Think Phantom of the Opera.)
Tier Five – Holthus Plaza Fountain
Tier five is the worst of the worst. It is distracting, loud, and busy. It would be destructive to your study supplies and you would definitely get unwanted attention. This space, the Holthus Plaza fountain, is not for the faint of heart. Only the boldest, bravest, and most waterproof might dare to study here. Many people say the phrase “hydrate or die-drate,” but it takes a brave heart (and a good towel) to really live out the motto. It’s true that the water might be refreshing, but more than just information would stick with you the rest of the day. This tier five study spot is the worst Concordia has to offer but if you try it out, you’ll gain more than just a good grade – you’ll gain undying respect and possibly hypothermia.
So there it is, folks: a systematic ranking of Concordia’s study spots. Where do you fit in? Are you a studious but desperate tier one? An adventurous, squirrel-loving three? A haunted and poetic four? We all need to study. It’s part of college life. Now you’ve just got to decide where to go.